Women at West Point

What did the admission of women to West Point add to our national progress? How can combat women contribute to social stability? A survey of West Point Alumni revealed that the following changes were made in the last 3 decades which may have adversely impacted their Honor Code, which gives us some insight into what might be expected from the admission of women to VMI (Virginia Military Institute):

1) The Cadet Prayer changed. 2) Hazing was restricted. 3) Women were admitted. 4) "The Silence" was dropped. 5) The "Limit Board" was dropped. 6) A cadet who reports his own honor violation now is considered to "have more moral fiber" than a cadet who did not violate the Honor Code in the first place. 7) An Honor Code Violation no longer results in automatic expulsion. 8) Dual physical and academic standards were implemented. 9) Cadets are now listed alphabetically rather than by class rank. 10) Admission standards were reduced. 11) Academic focus changed from science & engineering to liberal arts. 12) The Mission Statement changed.

Following is a break down of the replies. While the number of alumni who were unaware of any changes was small, their responses were vigorous and voluminous, and thus dominated the forum. That they contradicted their own fellow compatriots about whether such changes were even made in the first place reveals much about the conflicts this created. For example, is it honest to assert that women and men receive the "SAME" education at WP now, or should they remind us that there are serious differences in their education which adversely impact the entire nation? Is it permissible to note that it was the admission of women which led to these changes, or should they infer that "the same forces which led to the admission of women also led to the lowering of standards"? Will "political correctness" rule over quality and military readiness, or does the will of "we the people" and the constitution rule over erroneous court decisions? Do we have freedom of speech, or do we not?

Factor/Percent of responses

The Honor Code was weakened 38% Admission of women did not affect the Honor Code 37% Unaware of any changes which affected the Honor Code 15% Unaware of most changes which affected the Honor Code 65% Admission of women led directly to changes in the Honor Code 6% Admission of women led indirectly to a weakening of the Honor Code 3% Changes were due to different background of incoming cadets 10% Change in Honor Code was in enforcement, not wording 6% Change from science/engineering to liberal arts reduced discipline 1% 100+ cadets found guilty of honor violations reinstated in next class 3% Toleration clause was added 6% Affirmative action undermined the concept of honor in general society 3% Wording of the Cadet Prayer was changed 1% Supreme Court kicked God out of academies & classrooms 2% "...never to be content with a half truth when the whole can be won." Changes were due to the opposite sex together in close quarters 2% Changes due to cheating scandal of 1976 7% Legal eagles became involved and changed the system 1% Academy removed "the silence" as a tradition 4% Class honor rep turned himself in - honor violation - suspended a year 2% Underlying current of "if you don't get caught, it's OK." 2% "tolerate the acts of those who do" to separate the deed from person 1% Demise of a family-based society requires the changes 2% Change based on "more honorable thing to do is to admit your mistakes" 2% Second level of standards exists, but not for Honor Code 1% Cheating scandal was one year before admission of women 1% People caught having sex maybe lied to hide the truth 3% Men frustrated by dual physical standards more willing to cheat 2% Now have locks on the doors 2% "Cadets don't adhere to the honor code at all times" 1% MISSION statement changed after admitting women 1% Admission of women weakened WP in other ways 64% Women have not accomplished the same things as men 5% False sense of accomplishment/security from co-ed military training 2% Cadets now listed alphabetically and not by class rank 3% "Warrior" mentality no longer the raison d'etre for going to West Point 4% Admission of women is based only on "Political Correctness" 6% Have no information on the impact of the admission of women 1% Psychological differences of women impedes combat readiness 2% No standards should be lowered to accept anyone at WP 2% Reducing other standards affected WP more than Honor Code changes 3% Women should not be in the military at all 3% Single-sex education should be preserved 6% Even combat arms soldiers must know how to work effectively with women 1% Absence of women should not be a source of pride 1% "This suggestion is rather offensive" 2% VMI should stop accepting state funding to remain single-sex 6%

Other comments:

1) Men were afraid to 'correct' women plebes, as they may be accused of harassment. Therefore, male plebes received much more harassment than women. Take for instance the Navy Scandal (where a female plebe was shackled to a toilet in a latrine) - if that had happened to a male it would be commonplace and laughable, not a scandal.

2) "If you need some good examples of males who "beat" the honor system, let me know. I am a '91 graduate of the Naval Academy, and I saw enough examples of such"

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